CPU
GPU
GeForce GTX 280
Popular choices:
Radeon R7 A370
Popular choices:
Performance Spectrum - GPU
About G3D Mark
G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The GeForce GTX 280 is positioned at rank 314 and the Radeon R7 A370 is on rank 147, so the Radeon R7 A370 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar GeForce GTX 280
Performance Per Dollar Radeon R7 A370
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
⚠️ Generational Difference
The Radeon R7 A370 is significantly newer (2015 vs 2008). The Radeon R7 A370 likely supports modern features like Ray Tracing, Tensor Cores, and DLSS/FSR upscaling, which act as force multipliers for performance. The GeForce GTX 280 lacks this hardware feature set, limiting its longevity in modern titles despite any raw power similarities.
🚀 Performance Leadership
The GeForce GTX 280 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 0.3% higher G3D Mark score and 100% more VRAM (1 GB vs 512 MB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Radeon R7 A370.
| Insight | GeForce GTX 280 | Radeon R7 A370 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+0.3%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-0.3%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2008 / Tesla 2.0 (2007−2013)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2015 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ✅ More VRAM (+100%) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | Standard Size (267mm) | — |
💎 Value Proposition
The Radeon R7 A370 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon R7 A370 holds the technical lead. Priced at $51 (vs $649), it costs 92% less, resulting in a 1168.6% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | GeForce GTX 280 | Radeon R7 A370 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+1168.6%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($649) | ✅More affordable ($51) |
Performance Check
Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 7800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.
Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 280 and Radeon R7 A370
GeForce GTX 280
The GeForce GTX 280 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in June 16 2008. It features the Tesla 2.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 602 MHz. It has 240 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 236W. Manufactured using 65 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,285 points. Launch price was $649.
Radeon R7 A370
The Radeon R7 A370 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in June 18 2015. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The boost clock speed is 975 MHz. It has 1024 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 100W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,281 points. Launch price was $149.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce GTX 280 scores 1,285 and the Radeon R7 A370 reaches 1,281 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.3% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 280 is built on Tesla 2.0 while the Radeon R7 A370 uses GCN 1.0, both on 65 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 240 (GeForce GTX 280) vs 1,024 (Radeon R7 A370). Raw compute: 0.6221 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 280) vs 1.997 TFLOPS (Radeon R7 A370).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 280 | Radeon R7 A370 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 1,285 | 1,281 |
| Architecture | Tesla 2.0 | GCN 1.0 |
| Process Node | 65 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 240 | 1024+327% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 0.6221 TFLOPS | 1.997 TFLOPS+221% |
| ROPs | 32 | 32 |
| TMUs | 80+25% | 64 |
| L2 Cache | 256 KB | 512 KB+100% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | GeForce GTX 280 | Radeon R7 A370 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 2.1 (Compatible) | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | FSR 3 (Compatible) | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | Standard | AMD Anti-Lag |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The GeForce GTX 280 comes with 1 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon R7 A370 has 512 MB. The GeForce GTX 280 offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 256 KB (GeForce GTX 280) vs 512 KB (Radeon R7 A370) — the Radeon R7 A370 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 280 | Radeon R7 A370 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 1 GB+100% | 0.5 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bus Width | 128-bit | 128-bit |
| L2 Cache | 256 KB | 512 KB+100% |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce GTX 280 draws 236W versus the Radeon R7 A370's 100W — a 81% difference. The Radeon R7 A370 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce GTX 280) vs 350W (Radeon R7 A370). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin vs None.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 280 | Radeon R7 A370 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 236W | 100W-58% |
| Recommended PSU | 550W | 350W-36% |
| Power Connector | 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin | None |
| Length | 267mm | — |
| Height | 111mm | — |
| Slots | 2 | — |
| Temp (Load) | 85 | — |
| Perf/Watt | 5.4 | 12.8+137% |
Value Analysis
The GeForce GTX 280 launched at $649 MSRP and currently averages $649, while the Radeon R7 A370 launched at $149 and now averages $51. The Radeon R7 A370 costs 92.1% less ($598 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 2.0 (GeForce GTX 280) vs 25.1 (Radeon R7 A370) — the Radeon R7 A370 offers 1155% better value. The Radeon R7 A370 is the newer GPU (2015 vs 2008).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 280 | Radeon R7 A370 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $649 | $149-77% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $649 | $51-92% |
| Performance per Dollar | 2.0 | 25.1+1155% |
| Codename | GT200 | Trinidad |
| Release | June 16 2008 | June 18 2015 |
| Ranking | #802 | #467 |
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